Fusion polypeptide comprising a foreign antigen and self antigen

Abstract

The invention is in the field of medicine. More specifically, it is in the field of diagnosing tumor angiogenesis status and in the field of medical treatment of a subject who is suffering, suspected to suffer, or might suffer from a tumor in the future. In particular, the invention relates to a fusion polypeptide comprising a foreign antigen and a self antigen, wherein said foreign antigen consists of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 12-15 amino acid residues, 12-24% of which residues are hydrophilic, bulky amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of histidine, glutamate, arginine, glutamine, aspartic acid and/or lysine.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for eliciting an immune response in a mammalian subject suffering from endometriosis, uterine bleeding or myoma's, wherein said immune response is against a mammalian polypeptide the expression of which is associated with angiogenesis, the method comprising
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion polypeptide, the fusion polypeptide comprising said mammalian polypeptide and a foreign antigen, 
 wherein the foreign antigen comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, 
 wherein the foreign antigen is truncated form of SEQ ID NO:1 in which between 10 to 50 amino acids from the N-terminal side of SEQ ID NO:1 are removed, and 
 wherein the mammalian polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of vimentin (Vim), secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (Sfrp2), apelin (Apln), apelin receptor (Aplnr), human EGF receptor-2 (erbb2, HER2), erbb3 (HER3), fibrillin 2 (Fbn2), extra domain-B of fibronectin (ED-B), versican (Vcan), elastin microfibril interfacer 2 (Emilin2), CD99 antigen (CD99), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), matrix metallopeptidase 14 (membrane-inserted) (Mmp14), laminin alpha 4 (Lama4), nidogen 2 (Nid2), member a (Clec14a), sulfatase 1 (Sulf1), and insulin receptor (Insr). 
 
     
     
       2. A method for eliciting an immune response in a mammalian subject suffering from endometriosis, uterine bleeding or myoma's, wherein said immune response is against a mammalian polypeptide the expression of which is associated with angiogenesis, the method comprising
 administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of a fusion polypeptide, the fusion polypeptide comprising said mammalian polypeptide and a foreign antigen, 
 wherein the foreign antigen comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, 
 wherein the foreign antigen consists of a truncated immunogenic region of 58 to 70 consecutive amino acid residues of the protein of SEQ ID NO:1, and 
 wherein the mammalian polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of vimentin (Vim), secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (Sfrp2), apelin (Apln), apelin receptor (Aplnr), human EGF receptor-2 (erbb2, HER2), erbb3 (HER3), fibrillin 2 (Fbn2), extra domain-B of fibronectin (ED-B), versican (Vcan), elastin microfibril interfacer 2 (Emilin2), CD99 antigen (CD99), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), matrix metallopeptidase 14 (membrane-inserted) (Mmp14), laminin alpha 4 (Lama4), nidogen 2 (Nid2), member a (Clec14a), sulfatase 1 (Sulf1), and insulin receptor (Insr). 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is vimentin (Vim). 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (Sfrp2). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is apelin (Apln). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is apelin receptor (Aplnr). 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is human EGF receptor-2 (erbb2, HER2). 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is erbb3 (HER3). 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is fibrillin 2 (Fbn2). 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is extra domain-B of fibronectin (ED-B). 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is versican (Vcan). 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is vimentin (Vim). 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (Sfrp2). 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is apelin (Apln). 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is apelin receptor (Aplnr). 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is human EGF receptor-2 (erbb2, HER2). 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is erbb3 (HER3). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is fibrillin 2 (Fbn2). 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is extra domain-B of fibronectin (ED-B). 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mammalian polypeptide is versican (Vcan).